3. Test yourself. Do You Suffer From1 Technophobia?

1. What operations with a computer can you perform?

1. cleaning dust from it

2. switching it on/off

3. working with different programs

4. mending it

2. If you’re given a new electrical appliance for your birthday how quickly can you learn to use it?

1. never, I’ll ask somebody for help

2. it’ll take me more than a week to study the manual and to put the device into operation

3. it’ll take me less than a week

4. at once, however complicated the device is.

3. What do you need your mobile for?

1. to wear it like jewellery

2. only to make telephone calls

3. to make phone calls, send and receive SMS

4. to make phone calls, send and receive SMS, play games, listen to music, watch films

4. Bluetooth is …

1. a funny-sounding word

2. a device for making your teeth blue

3. a device for setting up communication

4. open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile device

5. How well can you use the Internet?

1. I can’t use it at all because I don’t know how to switch a computer

2. I can search for information, send e-mails

3. I can create my own web-site

4. I can easily hack into the Pentagon Security System

6. Which one will you prefer and can use to record music?

1. I can’t record any music

2. a spool recorder (бобинное записывающее устройство) or a taperecorder

3. CD recorder, computer

4. recording studio

7. Are you afraid to lose your work because you can be replaced by machines ?

1. Yes, I’m afraid of it very much. Almost every night I see nightmares where machine- monsters devour me.

2. Yes, I’m afraid, but I try not to think about it.

3. No, I’m not afraid. I can cope with my work better than machines.

4. I’ve never thought about it. It’s impossible. No machine can substitute me. They all depend on me!

Keys to the Test

If you have more A answers: unfortunately, you suffer from technophobia. It’s difficult for you to survive in this constantly changing world of new technologies. Perhaps, they are not such terrible monsters, and even can be your friends if to use them properly. Try to make friends with them.

If you have more B answers: you’re practically techno phobic. Do you like to lag behind² life? If no, learn about modern technologies, you’ll benefit a lot from them.

If you have more C answers: congratulations! You’ve reached the golden mean³. You’re neither technophobic nor technology-addict⁴. Go on like this. Try to keep pace with⁵ modern technologies.

If you have more C answers: great! You’re a professional in modern technologies. You can work with any technological “monster”. But be careful if you prefer the company of machines to people. Perhaps, you suffer from another kind of phobia – sociophobia (the fear of society)?

¹to suffer from – страдать от ч-л.

²to lag behind – отставать

³golden mean – золотая середина

⁴technology-addict – зависимый от технологии

⁵ to keep pace with – шагать в ногу с